ADVENT & CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES FOR CATHOLIC FAMILIES
Last year's advent activity list was such a joy! I hope it helped you get a jumpstart to the season. I've updated the list for 2021 with a few changes, add ins, book recommendations, and photos. Here's a compilation of what we hope to do this Advent and Christmas 2021.
I listed every idea we've ever heard of, so don't feel like you have to do it all. You can highlight your favorites and come back to the list next year for the rest. There are a few activities you'll have to prepare or purchase supplies for, so be sure to review them before tucking them into your calendar system. There are so many ways to display these and ideas for winter fun, I'd love for you to comment what are your traditions.
* A list of Advent & Christmas book and gift recommendations for families is at the bottom of the post.
Traditional Advent Activities to Consider
Advent Calendar - Countdown {Pocket Calendar Link} {Nativity Box Calendar}
Jesse Tree
Jesse Tree Cards from Catholic Family Crate
Nativity Scene (move pieces in parts, see Sundays)
Advent Candles
Advent Journal or Devotional
Advent Activity Paper Chain
12 Days of Christmas
2021 Advent Calendar
The following ideas can be printed and cut into strips to tuck into your Advent Calendar system. You could also glue into a paper ring garland to tear off each day. Otherwise, use as inspiration for activities during Advent.
Advent Prep Work
Create an Advent Music Playlist {Spotify Playlist comes with your Catholic Family Crate}
Setup Nativity Stable, or at least a Manger, with Container of Real or Paper Straw (Add a piece to manger with every good deed)
Setup Jesse Tree (any kind if display will work) and begin daily scripture readings on Day 1
Tuck all these ideas into your Advent Calendar drawers or pockets!
Sun Nov 28
Light 1st (violet) Candle: Hope.
Add the Angel to your Nativity Scene to represent The Annunciation. Set the Magi (Wise Men) far off to begin their journey of Hope. You can move them closer each week.
Go
to Mass, or if unable, watch online and make a Spiritual Communion.
Jesse Tree: World
Make a paper plate angel or other angel craft
Pray to your Guardian Angel and St. Gabriel
Hanukkah: Jewish Festival of Lights (Nov 28-Dec 6), read about this tradition and light your Christmas Tree!
*We bought Roll Your Own Advent Candles, and it was so much fun!
M Nov 29
Jesse Tree: Apple
Begin creating Christmas Cards, consider handwritten letters. Pray for these families.
Young children can color Christmas pictures to send.
Apples and Peanut Butter Snack
T Nov 30 St. Andrew (Patron Fishermen, Singers, Sore Throats and more)
Begin St. Andrew Novena* aka Christmas Anticipation Prayer
*St. Andrew Christmas Novena: It is piously believed that whoever recites the St. Andrew Christmas novena prayer 15 times each day from the feast of St. Andrew (November 30th) until Christmas Eve will obtain the favor requested. You could make a Prayer card with 15 counting beads.
Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen
Find this prayer in the Catholic Children's Prayer Book in my Etsy shop digital files. {link to file}
Jesse Tree: Ark
Snack: Seasoned Goldfish Crackers
Practice Christmas Carols
Noah's Ark Puzzle or toy set playtime
Plan an Ice Fishing Day
W Dec 1
Jesse Tree: Rainbow
Begin 25 day Countdown
Create
Paper Snowflakes and tape to windows!
Winter
STEM Project (such as Crystal Snowflakes)
Talk about being unique, like a snowflake.
Th Dec 2
Jesse Tree: Tent
Build a Christmas Lights & Blanket Fort
Holiday Dice Game: Roll-a-Snowman, Roll-a-Holiday Story
F Dec 3 St. Francis Xavier (Patron of Missionaries)
1st
Fri Mass - Sacred Heart of Jesus
Jesse Tree: Ram (Abraham and Isaac)
Discuss obedience and trust that God provides
Renew
your consecration to the SHJ
Observe a day of Fasting and Abstinence for Souls
Donate to a Mission Fund, or Adopt a Family in need for Christmas.
Give a goat to a family in need. https://gifts.crs.org/support-food-and-farming/give-goat
Donate items to a shoebox missionary organization or church mission project.
Sat Dec 4
1st
Sat Mass - Immaculate Heart of Mary
Jesse Tree: Jacobs Ladder
Renew your consecration to IHM
Make
a Snow or Wood Grotto for your garden’s Mary Statue
Gather the family to work on a puzzle
Sun Dec 5
Light 2nd (violet) Candle: Peace.
Add Drummer Boy, Trees, Manger, Misc to
Nativity Set to prepare a place for the Christ Child. Don't forget to add straw to the empty manger for every good deed, suffering or sacrifice you offer.
Jesse Tree: Joseph's Colorful Robe
Attend Mass
Snuggle up in your Robe and pjs with a good book
Put out your shoes/slippers/stockings for St Nicholas in the evening on Dec 5th. (If he fills your stockings inside, leave a *special key* for him on the front door wreath.)
Leave a letter for Saint Nicholas with your prayer intentions, needs and wants.
M Dec 6 St. Nicholas Day
Jesse Tree: Moses Basket
Check your shoes/stockings. Celebrate with Chocolate & Oranges!
Have friends over for a cookie exchange or gingerbread house building
Watch Veggies Tales' story of Saint Nicholas
Watch CCC of America's Saint Nicholas movie
Donate to a food shelf or homeless shelter.
T Dec 7 St. Ambrose (Patron of Beekeepers, Beggars, Learning…)
Jesse Tree: Flaming Bush
Snack: Honey Graham Crackers w cream cheese, berries and honey
Make Homemade Lozenges: Honey Ginger Throat Drops
W Dec 8 Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the BVM (Mass)
Jesse Tree: Drum
Give time or gift to a New Mother/Baby, or a Women’s Pregnancy Center
Sing an Advent or Christmas song
Make Homemade Play Dough, with scents of the season oils or spices. Use cookie cutters.
We enjoyed these printable Holiday Playdough Mats we found online.
Th Dec 9 St. Juan Diego
Jesse Tree: 10 Commandment tablets
10 Commandment game, put in order
Make plans for an Advent Confession
Watch CCC of America's movie about Juan Diego
Read The Legend of the Pointsetta by Tommie DePaola
Draw or paint Pointsettas
Send Flowers (or card) to Someone who may be Lonely
Video Chat and Read a Story to a Nursing Home Community or Family Member
F Dec 10
Jesse Tree: Horn
Watch Narnia The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe
Drive
to see Christmas Lights (bring blankets, hot cocoa and popcorn)
Watch
a Classic Christmas Movie
S Dec 11
Jesse Tree: Wheat
Bake a homemade loaf of bread
Candy Cane Bomb a parking lot (hook on car doors)
Sun Dec 12 Our Lady of Guadalupe (Patron of Americas, Mother of Mercy & Love)
Go to Mass:
Gaudete Sunday (wear pink)
Light 3rd (pink) Candle: Joy.
Add Shepherd, Sheep and Animals to your
Nativity Set.
Jesse Tree: Shepherd Hook
Create
cotton ball or pom-pom sheep for your Nativity set.
Snack: Shepherd Hooks (candy canes) and Cocoa
Create an OL Guadelupe Sun Catcher (<as detailed in link).
M Dec 13 Feast of St Lucy
Jesse Tree: Sling Shot
Make a slingshot or have a nerfgun battle
Paint a St. Lucy Peg Doll
Oldest daughter (child) gets up early to make breakfast for everyone. Traditionally bake Saffron Buns or Cinnamon Roll Wreath and add candles.
Read a book about St Lucy/Lucia and Sweedish traditions on this day.
T Dec 14 St. John of the Cross
Jesse Tree: Scales
Read about St. John of the Cross
Make Cinnamon Ornaments for tree, cut in cross shape.
Send Greeting Card to a Priest to thank and encourage.
W Dec 15
Jesse Tree: Temple
Build a Magnatile Temple or Church
Visit
a Living Nativity
Who is missing? Setup a toy nativity, remove a piece and let others guess who is missing
Build
a Lego Holiday Village
Help
someone in your “village,” such as shovel a driveway or take over a chore.
Th Dec 16
Jesse Tree: Crown
Create
Homemade Gifts
Make Ornaments: Wood Burned, Shrinky Dink, Origami, Bird Treats, and so many ideas online!
Make “I Spy” Nativity Ornament or Jar.
F Dec 17
Jesse Tree: Root of Jesse/Stump
O Antiphons begin today
Decorate Bedroom Doors
Draw up your Family Tree
Design a Family Crest
Family
Game Night
Sleep
Under the Christmas Tree
Sat Dec 18
Jesse Tree: Sheep
Learn how to Crochet/Knit
Cookie
Baking Day!
Practice Your Christmas Carols
Build a Gingerbread House out of cardboard, cookies or graham crackers
Sun Dec 19
Light
4th (violet) Candle: Love. Add Mary & Joseph to the Nativity
Set.
Attend Mass
Jesse Tree: Lion
Watch Narnia Prince Caspian
Read
an Advent Devotional Aloud
Design
Bookmarks to hide in Library Books.
M Dec 20
Jesse Tree: Whale
Watch Veggies Tales Jonah
Tomorrow is the 1st day of Winter: Go for a Winter Walk Outside
Build a Snowman, Snow Fort, Snow Painting…
Indoor fun: Pin the Carrot on the Snowman; Fling Marshmallows with a Spoon Trebuchet
Make Snow Slime, Snow Dough, or blend up some ice for sensory fun
T Dec 21 St. Peter Canisius (Known for Adding to the Hail Mary, Advocating for Adoration, and Writing a Catechism)
Jesse Tree: Flower
Read Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)#522-526 [longer #422-534]
Spend time in Adoration... with the children
Pray the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, each Hail Mary is a rose for Our Lady
W Dec 22
Jesse Tree: Carpenter's Tools
Make a wood gift for someone
Go
Christmas Caroling door to door, video chat, or sing with your family.
Christmas
Movie Marathon
Donate
Movies to a Hospital
Tape
a Popcorn Bag to a DVD rental box, or add a $1 bill in a return.
Th Dec 23
Jesse Tree: Dove
Decorate your Tree
Make Birthday Cards for Jesus and leave them under the tree
F Dec 24 Christmas Eve
Light 5th (white) Candle: Christ Light.
Jesse Tree: Baptism Shell
Attend the Vigil Mass
Don't forget the Family Photo!
Read the Christmas Story from the Bible
Have a family Nativity Play (record to share with family)
Oh the Anticipation! Clingwrap and Tissue Paper Prize Ball (everyone gets 10 seconds to open with mittens)
Sat Dec 25 Christmas
Day
Jesse Tree: Donkey
Have
a family procession, carrying in Baby Jesus for the Nativity Set.
Celebrate
with a Birthday Party for Jesus! Cake anyone?
Sing Carols Together, visit or call up someone who couldn't leave home and sing to them
Focus on time with your family as a priority over all the chaos of the day.
Give donkey rides to younger children
Begin 12 Days of
Christmas Celebrations and Traditions
- Light 12 Christmas Candles,
adding one each day to your dining table or window sill.
- Some families wait until
Christmas Eve to light their tree
- Hide your Wise Men (3 Kings), and/or
a paper star, in a different spot each day to find
- Donate toys you no longer play
with to make room for any new gifts.
- Spread the Good News:
*Send
Your Christmas Cards
*Leave
a Letter and Treat for your Mail Carrier
*Call
a friend and family member you didn’t see during the holidays.
Sun Dec 26 The Holy Family
Go to Mass, or watch online and make a Spiritual Communion.
Have some down time focusing on family.
Build a Snowman for a loved one who passed away.
Tue Dec 28 The Holy Innocents
Pray for an end to abortion and a special grace for expectant mothers to chose life.
Make Homemade Playdough
Sat Jan 1 New Year's Day - Solemnity of Mary
Attend First Saturday Mass for Mary
Pick a Saint to pray with throughout 2021
Create a Family Mission Statement for 2021
May your resolutions be Spiritual first!
Jan 6/9 (Thu/Sun) Feast
of the Epiphany
Add
Wise Men to your Nativity Set.
Bake
a Kings Cake with plastic baby hidden inside.
Hide your Wise Men (3 Kings), and/or a paper star, in a different spot each day to find
Epiphany Chalk Blessing on your door 20+C+M+B+21 (search prayer online)
The Night the Saints Saved Christmas by Gracie Jagla
- Jesus and Mary Speaks to Children book set
- The Advent of Christmas by Matt Maher
- The Spider who Saved Christmas by Raymond Arroyo
- A Nest for the Savior: An Interactive Christmas Tradition
- Jotham's Journey: A Storybook for Advent
- Saint Nicholas and the Mouse of Myra (a graphic novel)
- The True Saint Nicholas: Why He Matters to Christmas by William J Bennett
- The Miracle of St. Nicholas
- The Baker's Dozen: A St. Nicholas Tale
- A Book of Angels by Marigold Hunt
- Joy to the World: How Christ's Coming Changed Everything (and still does) by Scott Hahn
- Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas
- Joy to the World by Christ Stefanick
I love keeping crafting and activity ideas on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/HGCatholics/advent-christmas/
Here’s a fun Advent Calendar to make: http://homegrowncatholics.blogspot.com/2012/11/advent-stocking-tree.html
It looks like you're including a lot of wonderful things this Advent. I will be updating weekly as we do these activities, and possibly a few add ins. I have mostly teens now, so my posts will include more grownup activities also. We're hosting a Catholic Teen Christmas Party soon, so I'll share all those ideas afterwards. So come visit this page every now and then!
ReplyDeletePinterest is my favorite go to source for ideas. You just need to try a variety of key words for the search. 😉 For adults,we really focus on what Advent is about... a time of preparation. Its okay to let it be a time of quiet reflection and less activity. A good Advent Devotional can be all you need.
I pray you get well soon. We have been battling a virus these past two weeks, so it has been a rough start to all the fun we had planned for Advent. We do what we can. Everyday life teaches us so much we can't plan for.